FEBRUARY 18 • 2021 | 13

Sense of Duty

continued on page 14

Selesny began IDF service last March, 
right at the onset of the pandemic. He 
was supposed to fly back to Detroit for a 
visit, but all flights were canceled. So, after 
finishing studies at Yeshivat HaKotel in 
Jerusalem, he and Wolfe reported to base. 
In an unusual situation where soldiers 
usually get leaves for Shabbat or holi-
days, they spent the next 35 days on base, 
including Passover, with no break, with 
1,000 soldiers. 
Selesny said that during this time, there 
was no social distancing among the sol-
diers. A few working in the office tested 
positive for COVID and were put into 
quarantine but as for the rest, they gener-
ally went about life, and no one showed 
any symptoms.
Selesny explained that in the initial 
months of training, one needs to get in 
the mindset that “you are not in control” 
of your day-to-day routine. That control 
is given to one’s Mefaked, or commander. 
“For four months, you are on a clock 
from the time you wake, brush your teeth 
and get dressed,” Selesny said. “Even the 
laziest of us got up right away because 
we didn’t know what would happen if we 
did not listen to the Mefaked. They do all 
this so they can mold you into a good 
soldier.”

GIVING BACK
Selesny said since childhood he has 
always wanted to live in Israel. He feels 
proud to give back by serving and has 
befriended many Israelis as well as Jews 
from Brazil, Argentina and Kazakhstan.
“I have had a connection to Israel since 
I was very young,” Selesny said. “Many 
times, I visited here when others served 
in the army to make sure I was safe. Now 
I can give back, and I am honored to have 
taken on this responsibility. I have met 
people from all over the world. It truly 
feels like Am Yisrael is coming together.”
After he completes his service in 
August, he will most likely remain in 
Israel and go to university there. 
 Wolfe does not describe himself as a “die-
hard Zionist” like Selesny. Now four months 
into a 10-month tour of duty, Wolfe plans 
to return to the United States to study at 
Yeshiva University in New York City. 
Wolfe became a Lone Soldier because 
he desired to do something to contribute 
to the Jewish people and the Jewish State.
“I studied in Yeshivat HaKotel for 18 

“WHAT IMPRESSES ME 
IS HOW MUCH THE 
ARMY CARES FOR ITS 

SOLDIERS.”

— YOSSI NADEL

COURTESY OF NADEL FAMILY

